Find the Flat Side

Rotate the pumpkin until you find the flattest side. It will be easier to paint the silhouette on a smooth flat side than a bumpy one.

Pumpkin for Silhouette Project

Rotate the pumpkin until you find the flattest side. It will be easier to paint the silhouette on a smooth flat side than a bumpy one.

Print Silhouette

Use a computer and printer to print out a solid black silhouette of someone's face. You can use a family member's profile or simply search for silhouettes online. Tip: Make sure to measure the flat side of the pumpkin before you print so you'll know how large to print the silhouette.

Printed Silhouette

Use a computer and printer to print out a solid black silhouette of someone's face. You can use a family member's profile or simply search for silhouettes online. Tip: Make sure to measure the flat side of the pumpkin before you print so you'll know how large to print the silhouette.

Cut Out Silhouette

Use scissors to cut out the silhouette (Image 1), then temporarily attach it to the pumpkin with stick pins (Image 2).

Cutting Out the Silhouette

Use scissors to cut out the silhouette.

Pinning the Silhouette

Temporarily attach the silhouette to the pumpkin with stick pins.

Trace Silhouette

Use a pencil to trace around the entire silhouette.

Tracing the Silhouette onto Pumpkin

With a pencil, trace the outline of the silhouette onto your pumpkin.

Paint Silhouette

Remove the paper silhouette and stick pins, then use a flat-edged paintbrush to fill in the outline with black acrylic paint (Image 1). Use a small-tipped detail brush around the edges of the silhouette to clean up the design (Image 2).

Painting Silhouette onto Pumpkin

Remove the paper silhouette and stick pins, then use a flat-edged paintbrush to fill in the outline with black acrylic paint.

Painting Silhouette Onto Your Pumpkin

Use a small-tipped detail brush around the edges of the silhouette to clean up the design.

Attach Trim

Cut enough trim to completely encircle the silhouette (Image 1); attach it to the pumpkin with a hot glue gun (Image 2).

Cutting the Black Trim Around Silhouette

Cut enough trim to completely encircle the silhouette.

Creating the Silhouette Outline

Hot glue the black trimming onto your pumpkin in the shape of a circle.